Zoe's Story

As well as the pleasure at being a therapist within Westmeria, I have been the Clinical Manager for the last 3 years and I can't do justice in a paragraph to just how important Westmeria, the service and the ethos are to me and the Borough. 

Westmeria has been a low cost counselling service for over 20 years and we don't receive government funding to run, we rely simply on the donations clients can make, which can be as little as £5 a week, as well as relying on the free time our counsellors donate each week to support clients. 

I know the true, personal impact therapy can have on transforming someone's life. To begin to know yourself, process what you have been through, explore what is most painful to you right now and to not have to do it alone, to have the support of your therapist alongside you is both profound and humbling. 

I don't wish for anyone to have to change, grow, grieve or adapt alone and the fact Westmeria can offer longer term therapy to those who otherwise wouldn't have access is something I am very proud of. 

The simple fact is we need to fundraise in order to survive, and so I've taken on this challenge as a reminder of what I can do, the excitement and nerves within this! And to give back to Westmeria. 

This is so far out of my comfort zone and I go into the challenge of treking the 3 peaks in 3 days with a lot of nerves! However, I won't let anyone down, and if you can donate in any form, please know we are all extremely grateful and I know it will help spur me on. 

I also have my husband treking alongside me as he has always been my champion, and Westmeria is a charity which means a lot to him. He has trained in order to support me, and I'm glad to not be doing the 3 Peak Challenge alone!

Thank you for all and any donations

Gareth and Zoe